$55m flushed down the toilet? Anthony Martial is making it easier to live down that price tag. Both goals scored had a touch of good fortune, with Juan Mata offside when Martial was released into the box and then Adam Yoshida’s nightmarish back pass picked up by the French teenager. But lets not take away from the classy and composed finishes which indicates a maturity far beyond Martial’s age. In the 82nd minute, Martial showed a sporting touch by administering first aid to a cramping Virgil Van Dyck. What a refreshing change from the cynical, ugly, creepy gamesmanship on display by Diego Costa in the Arsenal match.

By that time Utd were cruising with 45 touches taken before Juan Mata scored Utd’s third from Memphis’s ricocheted effort off the upright.

David De Gea is back in business with the save of the weekend clawing out Adam Fontes’s header literally inches from entering goal. Bastian Schweinsteiger was instrumental in protecting the ball and keeping the midfield organized and flowing. Utd are much improved although still sluggish and

Soton’s bright start was provided by Saido Mane, James Ward- Prowse, and Graziano Pelle. The trio combined to put the Saints ahead very early in the game as Mane’s blistered past Daley Blind to receive Ward-Prowse’s delicious cross but his first time shot brilliantly parried by De Gea. Fortunately, right into the path of Pelle who smashed home. Soton minutes later spreading the field almost scored again but Pelle’s driven shot bounced off the upright. Their intention was clear, they had identified Daley Blind as the weakest link and it was paying off.

United slowly cranked up their presence and at the half hour mark were clearly the better side. The drop off in Soton’s defending was not entirely unexpected. Of late, they have been bled dry of the talent in that area by the bigger clubs. Luke Shaw, Nathaniel Clyne, Morgan Schneiderlin, amongst those leaving St Mary’s. With Utd slotting three unanswered goals, the Saints had to fight back in the last 10 minutes and made a very good case with Pelle heading home from Mane’s cross. With the game tantalizingly on the line, Shane Long coming on as a sub, inexplicably snatched the ball from team mate Stephen Davis in the Utd box as the midfielder was ready to lay a powerful shot on goal. He managed to float a cross which Pelle was unable to get hold off properly as the Saints ran out of time. Utd are now in second position just three points behind their crosstown rivals dealt a hammer blow by West Ham.